Gasps moved through the room.
My mother snapped, “Courtney.”
But it was too late.
Courtney had always loved winning more than surviving.
I nodded slowly.
“Thank you.”
She blinked.
“For what?”
“For saying it in front of witnesses.”
Rebecca was already typing on her phone.
Courtney realized it then.
Her mouth opened.
“No. No, that’s not—”
I sat back down.
My legs were steady, but only barely.
The girl I had been five years ago would have collapsed. The woman I had become knew better than to waste a public confession.
My mother stepped closer to me.
“Madeline, please. Whatever happened between Daniel and Courtney was private.”
I looked at her.
“You just demanded I be publicly removed from my own club because I embarrassed you by existing.”
Patricia’s face reddened.
“Family protects family.”
“No,” I said. “You protect Courtney. You use me.”
Courtney laughed bitterly.
“Oh, please. You’ve been jealous of me since I was born.”
I looked at her for a long moment.
Then I smiled.
That unsettled her more than anger would have.
“You know what’s funny?” I said. “I used to believe that.”
Courtney frowned.